The 2,080-hour rule, and the shortcut
A standard full-time year is 2,080 hours — 40 hours a week across all 52 weeks. So the fast version is just hourly rate × 2,080. For a mental estimate, double the rate and add three zeros: $30/hr → roughly $60,000 (the exact figure is $62,400). Change the hours or weeks and the whole thing scales with them.
Common rates at 40 hours a week
| Hourly | Yearly | Monthly | Biweekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 | $31,200 | $2,600 | $1,200 |
| $20 | $41,600 | $3,467 | $1,600 |
| $25 | $52,000 | $4,333 | $2,000 |
| $30 | $62,400 | $5,200 | $2,400 |
| $40 | $83,200 | $6,933 | $3,200 |
| $50 | $104,000 | $8,667 | $4,000 |
| $75 | $156,000 | $13,000 | $6,000 |
Every extra $1 an hour adds $2,080 to the yearly figure at 40 hours a week — useful to know before you accept or counter an offer.
Where these numbers can mislead you
- Part-time changes the base. At 30 hours a week the year is 1,560 hours, not 2,080, so $20/hr is $31,200 rather than $41,600. Set the hours to what you actually work.
- It is gross, not take-home. The result is pre-tax. Income tax, Social Security and Medicare come out before it reaches your account.
- Benefits are on top. Health cover, a 401(k) match and PTO typically add 10 to 15% of base pay in value, so compare total compensation between offers, not just the hourly rate.
Common questions
What is a $25 an hour salary per year?
At a full-time 40 hours a week, $25 an hour is $52,000 a year (25 x 2,080). That is $4,333 a month and $2,000 every two weeks, before tax.
How do I turn an hourly rate into a yearly salary quickly?
For a standard 40-hour week, multiply the hourly rate by 2,080. A shortcut: double the rate and add three zeros, so $18 becomes about $36,000. It slightly overstates the real figure of $37,440, but it is close.
Does the 2,080-hour figure include vacation?
It assumes you are paid for all 52 weeks. Paid time off does not change a salaried figure. If you are hourly and take unpaid weeks off, drop the weeks-per-year number to match.
